i can throw my two cents, i built myself a chiip and it's siick. i mean i totally understand if u don't want to build your own for what ever reasons, but i had a hell of a lot of fun doing it and i couldn't be happier with the end result. i definitely learned a lot about wii modchips and how simple the current modchip offerings really are.

The Wiikey is probably the best commercial modchip out at the moment, though if you wanted to save yourself $20-40 then the check out the Wiifree, an opensource chip. Eurasia.nu are selling preflashed PIC chips with the Wiifree code on for $6, or the Wiikey for $36. Shipping is $7. They also sell good quality triwing screwdrivers for $5 (needed for opening the Wii).

DealExtreme Have the Wiikey at $30.62 shipped. Apparently they're a reputable site though I've not used them myself.

At the end of the day all the modchips currently out are 'first gen' modchips for the Wii - they all work in the same way, have pretty much identical features and compatibility and there will be superior modchips out in the future, so purchase one bearing in mind that in the future you'll probably end up replacing it with another modchip. But for the moment at least the current modchips are pretty dam good, I've got a Wiikey myself and I'm very happy with it.

I have no idea about the free ones because I haven't kept up on them. Of the commercial chips though, honestly, the Wiikey and Wiinja Deluxe have the exact same features. If you need region free ina commercial chip, go with one of those.

Wiinja v2 and Cyclowiz are identical as well, neither has region free, although supposedly a Cyclowiz update will move it to the other list.

hmm, so jw... has anyone ever posted an all-out tutorial on how to install/build open source chips and what/how to flash them with? I haven't boutght a chip yet (not even a Wii atm, I'm waiting for my job at BestBuy and for the wii shortage to die down a little bit). I was going to do a lot of researching on the matter and learning not just how to make it work, but how it works in general. But.. TILL THEN, I was wondering if there has been a tutorial somewhere, whether for Chiip or Wiifree, about how to install and build.. etc, just to get a quick understanding. Thanks

hmm, so jw... has anyone ever posted an all-out tutorial on how to install/build open source chips and what/how to flash them with?Â I haven't boutght a chip yet (not even a Wii atm, I'm waiting for my job at BestBuy and for the wii shortage to die down a little bit).Â I was going to do a lot of researching on the matter and learning not just how to make it work, but how it works in general.Â But.. TILL THEN, I was wondering if there has been a tutorial somewhere, whether for Chiip or Wiifree, about how to install and build.. etc, just to get a quick understanding.Â Thanks